PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma (Pic) denounced on Sunday the "shocking and unacceptable” attack on Togo’s football team in Angola but said it would not affect South Africa’s hosting of the World Cup.

Zuma arrived in Luanda yesterday for the opening ceremony of the Africa Cup of Nations, the continent’s premier football event that was plunged into tragedy two days ago when separatist rebels killed two members of Togo’s squad.

Zuma "reiterated that South Africa remains 100 percent ready to host the FIFA World Cup, and dismissed speculation that the Angolan incident had any bearing on the World Cup tournament in South Africa,” his office said in a statement.

"The shocking and unacceptable attack on the Togolese team should not be blown out of proportion, but should serve as impetus for the African continent and the world at large to work even harder to rid the world of terrorist activity and violence wherever it surfaces,” it said.

The Nations Cup kicked off as scheduled last night with a match between Angola and Mali, although Togo’s government has ordered its squad to return home after the shooting in the restive northern enclave of Cabinda.

"He wished members of the team and entourage a speedy recovery.

Today’s CAN fixtures

Malawi        v     Algeria             -Luanda 3:45pm
Ivory Coast  v     Burkina Faso     -Cabinda 6pm
Ghana          v     Togo              -Cabinda  8.30pm

Ends